According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. According to current projections, this number will rise to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050 as the population ages. As a result, some signs can aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia; here are a few that have been scientifically proven.
Signs of Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages include difficulty speaking.
Speech is the most fundamental form of communication. Difficulty pronouncing words can be an indication of a problem. According to a Rotman Research Institute study, some areas of the brain responsible for speech can be affected first and show signs of dementia before any other symptoms. “Losing the ability to communicate is devastating,” said Claude Alain, a scientist at the university. “This discovery could lead to the development of treatments or interventions aimed at maintaining this ability and slowing the progression of the disease.”
Changes in mood and personality
According to recent research, sudden changes in mood and personality without a clear cause can be symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia. “Currently, we primarily look for memory problems and other cognitive problems to detect dementia,” said researcher James Galvin. “However, personality changes can occur several years before cognitive problems.”
Apathy and depression
Even in symptoms other than memory loss, this is strongly linked to behaviour. Indisposition, or an unwillingness to perform previously enjoyable tasks, can be a warning sign. “Caregivers experience a great deal of stress as a result of noncognitive symptoms.” “It can be very difficult to see personality changes in important relationships that were previously loving,” said James M. Noble of Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center.
According to research from the University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom, walking in an unusual manner can be a sign of dementia. “How we walk may reflect changes in thinking and memory that highlight problems in our brain, such as dementia,” researcher Rona McArdle explains.
Simple memory tests are failing.
Memory tests can detect one of the signs of dementia. A very low score at easy levels can be concerning. This was discovered in a study conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. “This can help determine who should participate in clinical trials to prevent cognitive decline.” It can also help narrow down those who already have Alzheimer’s disease in the brain using a simple test rather than expensive, invasive tests or spinal taps,” said Ellen Grober, one of the study’s authors.